Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI
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Spin-echo-based acquisitions are the workhorse of clinical MRI because they provide a variety of useful image contrasts and are resistant to image artifacts from radio-frequency or static field inhomogeneity. Three-dimensional (3D) acquisitions provide datasets that can be retrospectively reformatted for viewing in freely selectable orientations, and are thus advantageous for evaluating the complex anatomy associated with many clinical applications of MRI. ⋯ Through specific design strategies and optimization, including short non-spatially selective radio-frequency pulses to significantly shorten the echo spacing and variable flip angles for the refocusing radio-frequency pulses to suppress blurring or considerably lengthen the useable duration of the spin-echo train, these techniques permit single-slab 3D imaging of sizeable volumes in clinically acceptable acquisition times. These optimized fast/turbo spin-echo pulse sequences provide a robust and flexible approach for 3D spin-echo-based imaging with a broad range of clinical applications.
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J Magn Reson Imaging · Apr 2014
Pulmonary 3 T MRI with ultrashort TEs: influence of ultrashort echo time interval on pulmonary functional and clinical stage assessments of smokers.
To assess the influence of ultrashort TE (UTE) intervals on pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with UTEs (UTE-MRI) for pulmonary functional loss assessment and clinical stage classification of smokers. ⋯ UTE-MRI has a potential for management of smokers and the UTE interval is suggested as an important parameter in this setting.
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J Magn Reson Imaging · Mar 2014
Correlation of late gadolinium enhancement MRI and quantitative T2 measurement in cardiac sarcoidosis.
To investigate the potentially improved detection and quantification of cardiac involvement using novel late-gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quantitative T2 measurement to achieve better myocardial tissue characterization in systemic sarcoidosis. ⋯ LGE-MRI can identify cardiac involvement in systemic sarcoidosis. MCLE might be more sensitive at detecting subtle myocardial lesion. The decreased T2 observed in cardiac sarcoid may reflect its inactive phase, thus might provide a noninvasive method for monitoring disease activity or therapy.
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J Magn Reson Imaging · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyImproved MRI quantification of spinal cord atrophy in multiple sclerosis.
To identify an improved method for measuring spinal cord cross-sectional area (CSA) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in multiple sclerosis (MS). ⋯ PSIR/ASM proved more reproducible than established methods of evaluating CSA in MS and also provides the lowest number of subjects per arm for 6-month and 1-year clinical trials.
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J Magn Reson Imaging · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyPhysiorack: an integrated MRI safe/conditional, gas delivery, respiratory gating, and subject monitoring solution for structural and functional assessments of pulmonary function.
To evaluate the use of a modular MRI conditional respiratory monitoring and gating solution, designed to facilitate proper monitoring of subjects' vital signals and their respiratory efforts, during free-breathing and breathheld 19F, oxygen-enhanced, and Fourier-decomposition MRI-based acquisitions. ⋯ We demonstrate an inexpensive, off-the-shelf solution for monitoring these signals, facilitating assessments of lung function. Monitoring of respiratory efforts and exhaled gas concentrations assists in understanding the heterogeneity of lung function visualized by gas imaging.